This castle in Scotland could be yours for just £725,000... the only problem is it used to belong to a cannibal

10:03, 4 Feb 2015

ByScotland Now

THE historic ruins of Kaim of Mathers Castle on the Aberdeenshire coast, which was once home to the infamous 15th century laird James Barclay, has gone on sale.

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The view of the castle ruins from the house

THE ruins of a cannibal laird's castle in Scotland have gone on sale for £725,000.

The stunning Aberdeenshire coastal location complete with a beautifully renovated bungalow is in stark contrast to the grisly history of Kaim of Mathers Castle.

Perched precariously on the cliff edge the ruins are included in the nine acres of land that comes with the main property.

For less than the price of many family home in London you could own the piece of Scottish history and the castle that was once home to the infamous 15th century Laird James Barclay.

According to local legend, the cannibal laird often complained to King James I of Scotland about the sheriff who was detested by local landowners.

It is said one day the king told him to "go and make soup of the sheriff" and "sup" him - a comment Barclay took literally.

According to 'Portrait of a Parish' by Duncan Fraser, Barclay and other lairds from the area tricked the sheriff into a day's hunting before tipping him into a boiling cauldron.

One by one each lord "had a sup of the broth".

When the King found out he denied any involvement in the brutal killing of the sheriff- denouncing those who took part.

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The modern bungalow which comes with private slipway for a boat and its own beach, caves - and ruined castle

He swore an oath that Barclay "would get no peace to live neither on land nor sea for the rest of his life".

The cannibal laird spent the rest of his life at Kaim of Mathers "poised between the land and sea on a cliff top near St Cyrus".

The stunning ruin with the ghoulish history comes with a fully resorted former fishing station and has been put on the market by agent Strutt and Parker.

The buyers brochure states: "Rock Hall Fishing Station and Bungalow was bought as a ruin in 1998, it was comprehensively restored and turned into a family home by current owners Andrew and Annie Hamilton.

"Dating from around the late 18th century, Rock Hall was run as a salmon fishing station for around 200 years.

"Built into a hollow at the top of the cliffs, Rock Hall has been transformed from a working station with skipper's quarters, net store, two crewmen's bothies and a vaulted ice house into one large five-bedroom family home."